How Much Does a Sleep Study Cost?

A sleep study is something that is done to determine the cause of a person’s sleep issues. Because our bodies are so vulnerable when we sleep, there are a lot of things that can wrong without us even knowing it. The stages of sleep are separated into two main categories: REM (rapid eye movement) and non-REM. These stages are number and are usually cycled through a few times per night. There are different types of things that can go wrong while we sleep, and in order to find out what the problem is, in which cycle it is occurring, and a solution to the problem, a sleep study may need to be performed. If there is an issue during sleep, a person may be tired throughout the day even if they got 8-10 hours of sleep. The reason for this may be that the person never enters the deep stages of sleep. Another symptom one may experience is waking multiple times throughout the night. This will also result in fatigue throughout the day.

How much does a sleep study cost?

There are different issues that can arise when a person is trying to sleep. Some people may have sleep apnea, which can be dangerous since a person regularly stops breathing during the sleep for at least 10 seconds or longer. Some people can also have issues with getting adequate sleep while others simply cannot get off the bed. The type of sleep study you have performed will depend on the symptoms you are experiencing. On average, to have a sleep study done, the sleep study cost can vary anywhere from $2,000 to as much as $4,000 per study.

If you have a health insurance policy, be sure to check with them before signing up for a study. As long as the study is deemed medically necessary, your insurance company may cover the procedure.

The site NewChoiceHealth.com, a website that offers information regarding sleep study and the costs of other procedure, offers information regarding the price range of a sleep study in your area. According to the website, the cost to have sleep study in any part of the country can range anywhere from $2,475 to $3,200.

ApneaSupport.org is an online website that offers a wealth of information regarding sleep disorders as well as different treatments for each sleeping disorder. According to the site, a sleep study can cost anywhere between $2,100 and $3,200.

CyberSleep.com offers products as well as tests for people that have sleeping problems. The site mentions that the cost to have sleep study can range anywhere from $2,100 to $2,500.

What is going to be included?

A sleep study can be performed in different facilities but the most common setting will be in the hospital sleep laboratory. However, you may find that a physician who performs sleep studies may also have his own facility or office which has the equipment necessary to perform the test.

During the procedure, a patient will be asked to come into a lab early to get wired up. Once wired up, multiple channels of the body can be recorded once it falls asleep. While asleep, a technician will observe the sleeping patterns looking at all activity. The next morning, the patient will be discharged and the results will be analyzed. Wikipedia has an in-depth article about how the procedure works and what test results look like.

What are the extra costs?

Additional cost involved when you undergo sleep study would be for the following sessions since the payment is usually per each sleep study.

If you have a sleep study done at home, you will have to rent a CPAP machine and mask. This can run anywhere from $50 to $200 for the month.

If it is discovered that you suffer from sleep apnea, a CPAP machine and mask may need to be purchased. This will be used every night to insure that you do not stop breathing. Any other sleep disorders from which you may be suffering will have their own treatments, and these may cost money as well.

Tips to know:

Remember that the quality of sleep study in a hospital or free standing clinic or office can be the same. Do not let this stop you from going to where you prefer.

When choosing a sleep study professional, always make sure that the physician is board certified in sleep medicine.

How can I save money?

It is possible to have your insurance company involved if you are planning to undergo a sleep study. Insurance companies may allow $1500 per sleep study if it is performed in a hospital. If you do not have a health insurance policy, check out services such as eHealthInsurance.com to find a policy.

Even if you do not have the money up front, most labs are more than happy to set up financing plans or even offer discounts for those who pay in cash up front.

Consider having the sleep study done at home. After using a CPAP machine and mask, the results can be sent to a professional. Instead of paying upwards of $4,000, the test would only run around $200 to $500.